Hydrophobic Membrane Degassing Module for Dialysate Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dialysis systems face challenges in providing frequent and portable hemodialysis treatments, particularly for patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), due to the need for large volumes of purified water and the complexity of existing technologies, which limits accessibility and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A degassing and de-aerating module is integrated into a controlled compliant flow path, utilizing a hydrophobic membrane to remove gases while preventing aqueous liquids from passing through, and incorporating sorbent cartridges with materials like urease and zirconium phosphate to manage dialysate regeneration, allowing for efficient use of limited water sources and simplifying the treatment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hydrophobic membrane is used for degassing, then gas removal efficiency is improved, but membrane clogging and liquid passage resistance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The degassing module is divided into multiple hydrophobic membrane elements arranged in series, allowing gas removal to occur across multiple stages. This segmentation prevents any single membrane from becoming completely blocked, as gas can be removed progressively through each membrane section, maintaining continuous operation without complete clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydrophilic coating layer is applied to the hydrophobic membrane surface, creating an intermediary layer that allows water to pass through while still blocking gas. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between the hydrophobic membrane and the fluid, reducing clogging while maintaining gas removal functionality through the underlying hydrophobic structure.
2Productivity
If sorbent cartridges with urease and zirconium phosphate are used, then dialysate regeneration efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sorbent materials (urease for ammonia removal, zirconium phosphate for phosphate removal, and activated carbon for organic contaminants) are combined into a single integrated sorbent cartridge. This merging of multiple purification functions into one component achieves comprehensive dialysate regeneration without requiring separate cartridges for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high regeneration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sorbent cartridge is designed as a universal component that can be used in both hemodialysis and hemofiltration modes. The same cartridge handles multiple types of contaminants (ammonia, phosphates, organic compounds) and can be regenerated and reused, providing multi-functional capability that reduces the need for multiple specialized components and simplifies the overall system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system is designed for portability, then accessibility is improved, but water storage volume and system weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system recycles and regenerates used dialysate through the sorbent cartridges, converting waste fluid back into usable dialysate. This recovery process dramatically reduces the total water volume needed, as the same water can be circulated and regenerated multiple times rather than requiring large volumes of fresh water for each treatment session, enabling portability without excessive water storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses concentrated sorbent materials with high capacity for contaminant removal, changing the concentration parameter of the purification agents. This allows effective dialysate regeneration with smaller volumes of sorbent material and reduced water processing requirements, making the system compact and suitable for portable applications while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables more frequent and portable hemodialysis treatments by reducing the need for large water volumes, improving dialysate regeneration, and simplifying the system, making it more accessible and cost-effective for patients, especially in resource-limited settings.
Implementation Method 1
the degas module may use a hydrophobic membrane for allowing gas to pass through the membrane while resisting the movement of aqueous liquids across the membrane
Implementation Method 2
incorporating sorbent cartridges with materials like urease and zirconium phosphate to manage dialysate regeneration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
AI summary
A degassing module for removal of air and other gases during operation of a medical therapy device that delivers any one of hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration. The degassing module has a flow-through first chamber that has a hydrophobic vent membrane that has an exterior and interior side forming a portion of the flow-through chamber. The hydrophobic vent membrane is positioned at a higher elevation on the flow- through chamber than a fluid outlet. Fluid flows through the flow-through chamber in a downward direction relative to the hydrophobic vent membrane. A flow-through chamber has a cross sectional area configured to provide for a downward flow velocity of the fluid to be less than the upward rise velocity of a smallest bubble to be removed from the fluid.